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If you haven’t already heard, Pokémon GO has quickly become the biggest mobile game in U.S. history. However, the game’s rapid rise in popularity has also raised some major mobile security concerns. Its millions of users may not be aware of the many data vulnerabilities that lay hidden within the game and its privacy policy. Are you one of them? Here are the answers to your most pressing Pokémon GO questions.

What Is Pokémon GO’s Privacy Policy?

Like most apps out there, Pokémon GO does collect data about its users. When first downloading the app, users need to sign in with a Google account and grant access for the app to use your camera, data and contacts. According to the Pokémon GO privacy policy, Niantic may also collect your username, email address, IP address, the web pages you were using before logging into the game and your entire Google account. In addition, the privacy policy gives the company wide latitude for using all of this information. Niantic can hand personally identifiable information (PII) over to law enforcement, sell it off and even share it with third parties.

Niantic’s gigantic database of data is full of information provided by its users, which makes it the perfect target for hackers and criminals. If the Niantic servers are hacked, the hijackers could potentially have access to all of your personally identifiable information (PII). The company has offered minimal details on how it plans to store all that data, but promises that it is taking the appropriate measures to protect the large database of PII – the type of information that hackers have been increasingly targeting.

What Are Other Major Security Concerns with Pokémon GO?

Pokemon GO is creating some major mobile security concerns.

The public nature of Pokémon GO has caused some unforeseen side effects and attracted other cybersecurity concerns. Many fake versions of the app have been uncovered, which contain malware that can lock your smartphone and cause more harm. Also, criminals have reportedly been able to use the geolocation feature to lure players to remote areas and rob them at gunpoint. This shows that although the new game has received an abundance of positive feedback, there are some major dangers that players aren’t aware of.

What Problems Can Pokémon GO Present with the Rise of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) in the Workplace?

The vulnerability of mobile data within Pokémon GO means that there’s a greater need for managed IT security. Especially with the ongoing trend of BYOD, the likelihood of introducing unwanted cyber activity and harmful attacks via these connections is at an all-time high. If your employees are using unprotected devices when using the game, it could lead to exposing sensitive business data in the event of a hack.

How Can I Stay Protected When Using Apps Like Pokémon GO?

Pokémon GO is a prime example of the various security risks that are presented with unprotected mobile devices and the growing need for managing these endpoints. By leveraging a solution like mobile device management (MDM), you can greatly reduce these risks. MDM gives you the ability to remotely wipe an individual’s data if a device is compromised. An MDM solution will also allow you to implement app management policies and put restrictions on app purchases from non-validated markets.